Pull tab assembly



B. C. RAU ETAL PULL TAB ASSEMBLY Filed Sept. 23, 1964 Jan. 31, 1967INVENTORS BLASE C. Rau 6^. JOHN C.JL\%PER BY y V. l. /mmw ML/a/VLMIFFTORNXS United States Patent O 3,301,431 PULL TAB ASSEMBLY Blase C.Ran,

assignors to Continental Can Company, Inc., New York, N.Y., acorporation of New York Filed Sept. 23, 1964, Ser. No. 398,502

. 7 Claims. (Cl. 220-54) This invention relates in general to new anduseful improvements in pull tabs of the type which are particularlyadapted for securernent to tear strips in the opening of containers, andmore particularly relates to a novel pull tab which is securable to atear strip of a container wherein a relatively great force must beexerted through the pull tab to the tear strip to effect the rupture ofa container panel. Y

It has been found that from to 14 pounds force is required on theextreme end of a conventional pull tab in order to effect the rupture ofa can end of the conventional type now in use. Since the pull tab mustbe retained closely adjacent the can end to prevent interference withthe operation of can closing machinery, it is initially difficult toplace ones finger beneath the projecting end of the pull tab. Exertingthe force required onV the pull tab also becomes extremely difiicult. Infact, many people cannot open the present type of easy opening can end.

In view of the foregoing, it is the primary object of this invention toprovide a novel combination ring and` pull tab assembly which utilizes aconventional type of pull tab but provides means for applying thenecessary force to the extreme end thereof whereby the difficulties inopening cans of the easy opening tear strip type are eliminated.

In accordance with this invention, it is proposed to provide aconventional pull tab at the end thereof remote from its point ofattachment yto an opening strip with a pull ring whereby the necessaryforce may be easily exerted on the pull tab. It is proposed to modify anexisting pull tab to receive the pullkring, but, if desired, the pullring and pull tabmay be of an integral construction.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a novel connectionbetween a plastic pull ring and a metal pull rigidlyl secured to thepull tab and having sufficient re-` siliency whereby it may be swungfrom the plane of the pull tab with a minimum of effort so that it maybe firmly j gripped for the purpose of applying a lifting force to thepull tab.

Chicago, and .lohn C. Jasper, Hinsdale, Ill.,

Patented Jan. 31, 1967 ICS With the above, and other objects in Viewthat will hereinafter appear, the nature ofthe invention will be moreclearly understood by reference to the following detailed description,the appended claims and the several views illustrated in theaccompanying drawing:

" specifically shows the construction of the can end and the associatedpull tab assembly, the pull tab assembly being illustrated in the`progress of 'being utilized toopen the can by phantom lines.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken along theli'ne4-4 of FIGURE 3 and shows more specifically the construction of thepull tab assembly.

FIGURES is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal sectional view similar toFIGURE 4 and shows a modified form of pull tab assembly.

FIGURE 6.is an enlarged fragmentary` vertical sectional view taken alongthe line 6-6 of FIGURE 5 and shows the specific connection between thepull ring and the'pull tab.-

FIGURE 7 is an enlargedfragmentary vertical sectab is interlocked withthe pull ring.

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view through apull'tab assembly wherein the pull ring is in the form of a metal ringwhich is secured to the pull tab only at the trailing end of the pulltab.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, it will be seen that there isillustrated in FIGURES 1, 2 and 3 a can of the easyv opening type, thecan being generally referred to by the numeral 10. The can 10l is formedof a conventional can body 11 which may have the lower end( thereofclosed in a conventional manner. The upper end of the can body 11 isclosed by means of an easy opening can end 12 which is secured to thecan body 11 by means of a conventional double seam 13.

The can end 12 includes a recessed end panel 14 which has a removabletear'strip 15 defined therein by means of a score line 16. The tearstrip 15 is provided with an ,integral rivet 17J through which a pulltab 18 is sef cured to the tear strip 15 for the purpose of facilitatingStill another object of this invention is to provide a novel pull tabassembly which includes a metal pull ring, a metal pull ring beingsecured to the pull tab at the end thereof remote from its point ofsecurement to an opening strip, and the connection between the metalpull ring and the metal pull tab being of the hinged type wheretheremoval of the tear strip 15 by rupturing the end panel 14 along thescore line 16.

It is to be understood that the tear strip 15v may be of any desiredconfiguration and the outline of the tear strip in no way is a part ofthis invention. `It is also to be understood that the rivet connectionbetween the tear strip 15 and the' pull tab 18 is of a conventional typewhich is not a part of this invention.

The -pull tab 18 is of a generally conventional type .'configuration,but with modifications.y It is to be noted thatthe pull tab 18, asisbest shown in FIGURE 5 is of a winged channel cross section and includesa central shaped portion 20, the pull tab 18 is provided with a pair ofoutwardly directed wing anges 22. The wing fianges 22 terminate at theirouter edges in reversely turned edge portions 23.

It is also to be noted that the channel 20 is of an increased Width atthe leading end of the pull tab 18 so as to provide clearance for thehead of the rivet 17. Also, it is to be noted that the end of the pulltab 15 remote from the rivet 17 includes an end reversely turned edgeportion 24. The channel 20, coupled with the reversely turned edgeportions 23 and 24, stiffen the pull tab 18 to the extent that the pulltab 18, which is preferably formed of sheet metal, may be considered tobe a rigid pull tab.

In accordance with this invention, it is proposed to provide the pulltab 18 with a pull ring whichmay be readily swung from a positionclosely adjacent the end panel 12 to an upstanding position where it maybe readily gripped. In the simplest form of the invention, a wire metalpull ring 25 is provided. The reversely turned edge portion 24 is shapedto grip an intermediate portion of the metal pull ring 25 and firmlysecure the metal pull ring 25 to the pull tab 18. It is to be understoodthat the frictional connection between the reversely turned edge portion24 and the pull ring 25 is sufficient to normally hold the pull ring 25closely adjacent the surface of the end panel 12 while permitting thepull ring 25 to be readily rotated to an upstanding position where itmay be readily gripped.

Referring now to FIGURES 3, 4 and 5 in particular, it will be seen thatthere is illustrated a modified form of pull tab assembly wherein thepull tab 18 has secured thereto a plastic pull ring, generally referredto by the numeral 26. The plastic pull ring 26 is substantially circularin outline except for a short fiat peripheral edge portion 27. If sodesired, the pull ring 26 may be substantially circular in cross sectionthroughout its entire circumference and be connected to the metal pulltab by a looped formation thereof corresponding to the tab formation 24shown in FIGURE 1. The friction of the tab formation on the plastic ring26 prevents the ring from being lifted inadvertently.

It will be readily apparent that the pull ring 26 is securely connectedto the pull tab 18 so that the necessary lifting force may be applied tothe pull tab 18 through the pull ring 26. Attention is now directed toFIGURES 3 and which clearly show the pull ring 26 as being disposedclosely adjacent to the end panel 12. As is clearly shown in FIGURE 4,the pull ring 26 is of a sufficient size to completely encircle the pulltab 18. Thus, the pull ring 26 may lie closely adjacent the end panel 12and yet is available to be readily lifted -to a position whereby it maybe easily gripped by ones finger, as is shown in dotted lines in FIGURE3. Although the pull tab 18 may have a rigid connection with the pullring 26, when the pull ring 26 is formed of a material, such as asuitable plastic, it can be flexed with sufficient ease so that thelifting thereof may be readily accomplished. Once the pull ring 26 hasbeen lifted, one or more fingers may be passed through the loop thereoffor exerting the necessary force on the pull tab 18 -through the pullring 26. The combination pull ring 26 and pull tab 18 thus forms a pulltab assembly that permits the application of a much greater force foropening the can than could otherwise be applied.

In FIGURES 5, 6 and 7, there is illustrated a slightly modified form ofa pull tab assembly wherein the pull tab 18 has secured thereto amodified form of pull ring which is referred to by the numeral 31. Thepull ring 31 differs from the pull ring 26 in that it has a fiat rearportion 32 and a generally horseshoe shaped forward portion 33 which arecontinuous. The flat rear portion 32 has a forwardly extendingconnecting strap 34 which is bifurcated to define a pair of spaced apartlegs 35 which are positioned on opposite sides of the depending rib 21.

The legs 30 are clamped against the underside of the pull tab 18 by thereversely turned side edge portions 23 in the manner shown in FIGURE 6.However, because of the difference in outline of the pull ring 31, thereversely turned edge portion 24 does not extend about the edge of thepull ring 31, but extends through an elongated slot 36 formed in thestraight rear portion 32 of the pull ring 31, as is clearly shown inFIGURES 6 and 7.

It will be readily apparent that the combination pull tab 18 and pullring 31 will function in the same manner as that described above withrespect to the pull tab assembly formed of the pull tab 18 and the pullring 26. Also, it will be readily apparent that the pull ring 31 will bedisposed closely adjacent the end panel 12 in an outof-the-way position.

Although it has not `been specifically illustrated in the drawing, itwill be apparent that the pull ring may be integrally formed with thepull tab and the integral pull tab assembly thus formed may be formed ofeither metal or a suitable flexible material such as plastic. In eitherevent, it will be readily apparent that the connection between the pulltab and the pull ring will be sufficiently flexible to permit the pullring to be easily lifted to the necessary position whereby it may beengaged by ones fingers to exert the necessary pull on the pull tab.

The advantages of the pull tab assemblies of this invention over asimple pull tab are believed to be obvious. It is quite apparent thatthe pull tab assemblies have all of the advantages of the pull tab perse including compact storage thereof within the recessed can end. Also,it will be readily apparent that any possibility of cutting ones fingersby slippage relative to the pull tabs is eliminated. Furthermore, thecombination ring and tab enables a firmer. grip and greater purchase tobe applied for exerting the necessary force on the pull tab with aminimum of effort.

Although only preferred embodiments of the invention have beenspecifically illustrated and described here, it is to be understood thatminor variations may be made therein within the spirit and scope of theinvention, as denedin the appended claims.

What is claimed as new:

1. A pull tab assembly comprising a pull tab adapted to be secured atone end to a tear strip and a flexible pull ring connected to said pulltab at the opposite end thereof, said pull ring being formed of plasticand said pull tab having at least one edge portion rigidly clampinglysecuring said pull ring to said pull tab.

2. A pull tab assembly comprising a pull tab adapted to be secured atone end to a tear strip and a exible pull ring connected to said pulltab at the opposite end thereof, said pull tab having reversely turnededge portions along said opposite end and opposite edges thereof, andsaid pull ring having a connecting strap extending generally coextensivewith said pull tab and being rigidly clamped to said pull tab by saidreversely turned edge portions.

3. A pull tab assembly comprising a pull tab adapted to be secured atone end to a tear strip and a pull ring connected to said pull tab atthe opposite end thereof, said pull tab having reversely turned edgeportions along said opposite end and opposite edges thereof, and saidpull ring having a connecting strap clamped to said pull tab by saidreversely turned edge portions, said pull tab having a longitudinallyextending rib seated in said connecting strap and resisting pivoting ofsaid pull tab relative to said connecting strap.

4. A pull tab assembly comprising a pull tab adapted to be secured atone end to a tear strip and a pull ring connected to said pull tab atthe opposite end thereof, said pull tab having reversely turned edgeportions along said opposite end and opposite edges thereof, and saidpull ring having a connecting strap clamped to said pull tab by saidreversely turned edge portions, said pull tab having 3, longitudinallyextending rib, and said connecting 5 strap being bifurcated to extend onopposite sides of said rib.

5. The pull tab assembly of claim 2 wherein said reversely turned edgeportion along said opposite end extends through a slot in said pullring.

6. The pull tab assembly of claim 4 wherein said reversely turned edgeportion is along said opposite end and extends around an outerperipheral edge of said pull ring.

7. An easy opening can end having a recessed end panel, a removable tearstrip in said end panel, a pull tab having one end permanently securedto said tear strip as an extension thereof, and a exible plastic pullring having a portion thereof ixedly connected to the opposite end ofsaid pull tab for facilitating the placing of a pulling force on saidpull tab, said pull ring encircling said pull tab and lying close tosaid end panel.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 5/ 1932 Ericsson220-48 6/'1937 Ljungstrom 220-48 9/ 1937 Hildebrandt 220-48 3/ 1938Speidel 220-54 4/ 1963 Walsh 220-54 11/ 1965 Simpson et al. 220--54FOREIGN PATENTS 10/ 1956 France.

15 LOUIS G. MANCENE, Primary Examiner.

G. T. HALL, Assistant Examiner.

1. A PULL TAB ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A PULL TAB ADAPTED TO BE SECURED ATONE END TO A TEAR STRIP AND A FLEXIBLE PULL RING CONNECTED TO SAID PULLTAB AT THE OPPOSITE END THEREOF, SAID PULL RING BEING FORMED OF PLASTICAND SAID PULL TAB HAVING AT LEAST ONE EDGE PORTION RIGIDLY CLAMPINGLYSECURING SAID PULL RING TO SAID PULL TAB.